A keen gardener who lives in a picturesque village near Ludlow will reveal the green-fingered secrets of her success during a book signing in the town.
Christine Buxton, of Haytons Bent, moved to south Shropshire seven years ago when she relocated from her native Lancashire.
She spent many hours tending the plants of her garden and has written a newly-published book about the experience. She will sign copies of it during a book signing session at Ludlow’s Castle Bookshop on December 8 from noon until 2pm.
Mrs Buxton said: “My mother-in-law, suffering from Motor Neurone Disease, and my father-in-law, realising he needed help to look after her, had been living with us for some time.
“The garden had been neglected, but still gave pleasure in the rare times we could take the wheelchair around it and the many times we could look out at it from the house, every window looking onto the garden or on to the lovely Corvedale.”
When her mother-in-law died, she found she suddenly had time to fill and nothing to fill it with.
“My beautiful but neglected garden came to the rescue.”
Mrs Buxton added that her book, which is called A Year In My Garden, told the story about 12 months in the life of her garden.
She said: “It is a ‘behind the scenes’ look at a developing creation, showing the thoughts behind the decisions that transformed a rough patch of nature into a garden that the National Gardens Scheme was happy to open to visitors.
“There is an idiosyncratic and enthusiastic narrative in this photo-diary, which tells of the failures as well as the successes; of the struggles with pests and weather; of budget and time constraints and of the many people involved in the endeavour.”
Mrs Buxton added that while the book’s subject was a rural English cottage garden, her unfolding diary was applicable to almost any temperate-zone gardener in the world.
She said: “I am by no means an expert horticulturist, but there is practical advice, hints and tips, which will hopefully prove interesting, useful and often amusing to fellow gardeners.”
A Year In My Garden is hardback and 191 pages. As well as being on sale in bookshops it can be ordered through the Shropshire Star thanks to a special linkup with Christine Buxton. Cost is £14.99 plus £2.50 postage and packing.
To buy a copy contact: Editorial Support Department, Shropshire Star Book Club, Ketley, Telford, Shropshire TF1 5HU. Office hours telephone (01952) 241459 or 241496 before 4pm; fax (01952) 254605; email, editorialsupport@shropshirestar.co.uk. Discuss with them your preferred payment method.
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